The Chinese army is facing shortcomings in the manipulation and control of the electromagnetic spectrum, according to the US Department of Defense. In modern conflicts, the electromagnetic spectrum is crucial for navigation, communication, deception, and weapon management. As world powers collide, it is expected that there will be numerous instances of electronic interference and signal replacement.
The senior representative of the US Department of Defense stated that China is aware of its weaknesses and is attempting to address them. This came as a response to the Report on the military power of China for 2023, which is released annually and provides a detailed analysis of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China and Beijing’s modernization goals.
In 2015, China established a strategic supporting detachment that centralized its efforts in the fields of space, information, cyber warfare, and electronic warfare. Additionally, the PLA is actively developing tactics known as the “War of the destruction of systems,” recognizing that wars are no longer solely focused on the destruction of enemy troops. Victory now depends on the ability to disrupt, paralyze, or completely destroy enemy networks and infrastructure.
The Pentagon acknowledges that the Chinese armed forces continue to make efforts to improve their cyber and electronic arsenals. Both the USA and China incorporate electronic warfare into their military exercises. China utilizes these opportunities to test system understanding and interference procedures, as well as evaluate their research and development achievements.
An official representative stated that the PLA views space, cyber warfare, and electronic warfare as closely interconnected domains. They have been writing about the concept of integrated network electronic warfare for many years.